Kansas City cornerback Jacoby Glenn intercepts a pass intended for Chargers wide receiver Travis Benjamin, right, in the first quarter in Carson on Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Chargers running back Austin Ekeler, left, is hit and brought down by Kansas City linebacker Ukeme Eligwe in the third quarter in Carson on Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A pass bounces incomplete off of Chargers wide receiver Tyrell Williams as Kansas City cornerback Marcus Peters defends in Carson on Sunday, September 24, 2017. The ball was nearly intercepted as it bounce to another Kansas City player. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Kansas City strong safety Daniel Sorensen, left, nearly intercepts the ball after it bounce off of intended receiver Tyrell Williams, center, of the Chargers in Carson on Sunday, September 24, 2017. Kansas City cornerback Marcus Peters, right, defends. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kansas City running back Kareem Hunt breaks away to score a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Chargers in Carson on Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

A chargers fan cheers on her team during Sunday’s game against Kansas City in Carson on September 24, 2017. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Chargers running back Branden Oliver changes course as he finds a hole in the Kansas City defense in Carson on Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers looks for an open receiver against Kansas City in Carson on Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Chargers defensive end Joey Bosa, left, and outside linebacker Melvin Ingram celebrate after sacking Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith in the third quarter in Carson on Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Chargers wide receiver Travis Benjamin, center, sprints away from Kansas City defenders in the first quarter in Carson on Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Chargers running back Melvin Gordon is tripped up by Kansas City cornerback Phillip Gaines, bottom, in Carson on Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs fans before the start of the game at the StubHub Center in Carson Calif., Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze / SCNG)

Los Angeles Chargers take the field against the Kansas City Chiefs, at the StubHub Center in Carson Calif., Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze / SCNG)

Kansas City Chiefs players sit on the batch during the National Anthem, before a game against the Los Angeles Chargers , at the StubHub Center in Carson Calif., Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze / SCNG)

Members of the Los Angeles Chargers during the National Anthem, before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs, at the StubHub Center in Carson Calif., Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze / SCNG)

Kansas City Chief linebacker Justin Houston (50) and teammates on the bench during the National Anthem, before a game against the Los Angeles Chargers , at the StubHub Center in Carson Calif., Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze / SCNG)

Kansas City Chiefs defensive back Daniel Sorensen (39) and corner back Phillip Gaines(39) up end Los Angeles Chargers Adrian Phillips during the second quarter, at the StubHub Center in Carson Calif., Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze / SCNG)

Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt (27) breaks through for a first down agains the Los Angeles Chargers, during the third quarter, at the StubHub Center in Carson Calif., Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze / SCNG)

Los Angeles Chargers fan ” Bolt Man ” in the final minutes of the game, as the Los Angeles Chargers lost 24-10 to the Kansas City Chiefs, at the StubHub Center in Carson Calif., Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze / SCNG )

Los Angeles Chargers fan ” Bolt Man ” in the final minutes of the game, as the Los Angeles Chargers lost 24-10 to the Kansas City Chiefs, at the StubHub Center in Carson Calif., Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze / SCNG )

The Chargers take the field before the start of their game against Kansas City in Carson on Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Kansas City Chiefs players sit on the batch during the National Anthem, before a game against the Los Angeles Chargers , at the StubHub Center in Carson Calif., Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze / SCNG)

Members of the Los Angeles Chargers during the National Anthem, before a game against the Kansas City Chiefs, at the StubHub Center in Carson Calif., Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze / SCNG )

Kansas City Chief linebacker Justin Houston (50) and teammates on the bench during the National Anthem, before a game against the Los Angeles Chargers , at the StubHub Center in Carson Calif., Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze / SCNG)

Kansas City cornerback Jacoby Glenn intercepts a pass intended for Chargers wide receiver Travis Benjamin, right, in the first quarter in Carson on Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Chargers running back Melvin Gordon runs intot the end zone for the score against Kansas City in the first quarter in Carson on Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs fans before the start of the game at the StubHub Center in Carson Calif., Sunday, September 24, 2017. ( Photo by Stephen Carr / Daily Breeze / SCNG )

Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith is sacked by Chargers defensive back Desmond King, left, and defensive end Chris McCain, right in Carson on Sunday, September 24, 2017. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Orange County Register/SCNG)

CARSON — Even after relocation and a coaching change, this remains true: The Chargers will only go as far as Philip Rivers takes them.

On Sunday, that reality did not look reassuring. In their second game at StubHub Center, the Chargers fell to Kansas City, 24-10 — dropping to 0-3 for the first time since 2003. And Rivers, making his 188th consecutive start, deserved a healthy share of blame.

The veteran quarterback dug the Chargers into an early hole, throwing three interceptions in the first 20 minutes. The first two picks set up short fields for Kansas City, which needed just eight plays to score its first 14 points. The third led to a 31-yard field goal.

“Any time the quarterback plays that poorly,” Rivers said, “it’s going to be tough to win.”

“We can’t start drives with our defense on that side of the field,” safety Tre Boston said. “Four or five times today, our backs are against the wall.”

Rivers also escaped a close call early in the fourth quarter, when a deep pass bounced off receiver Tyrell Williams and into the arms of safety Daniel Sorensen. After a review, officials ruled the pass incomplete.

If not for the Chargers’ stingy defense — which held Kansas City to 3.4 yards per game through the second and third quarters — the outcome could have been even more lopsided.

This is not to say that Rivers, who turns 36 years old in December, is washed up. For years, the 6-foot-5, 228-pound passer has been the engine of the Chargers’ offense, making five playoff appearances and six Pro Bowls. At his best, he is still a thrilling conductor, one capable of dropping dimes and commanding late-game comebacks.

But there is a trend. Sunday marked the ninth time in his career that Rivers threw at least three picks in a single game. Even more concerning? More than one-eighth of the regular-season interceptions in his career (21 of 160) have come in the past 11 months.

Anthony Lynn, the Chargers’ first-year head coach, pointed out that Rivers had only thrown one interception in the previous two weeks.

“I don’t think it’ll be a pattern,” he said.

Rivers’ teammates picked up some of the slack on Sunday. Running back Melvin Gordon, who sat out most of the second half with a knee injury, turned his first nine carries into 55 yards and a touchdown. He eventually finished with 79 yards on the ground, more than he totaled in the past two weeks.

And the defense? It shined. Kansas City quarterback Alex Smith began the day by completing eight consecutive passes, but eight of his team’s 10 drives fizzled out without covering more than 37 yards.

Chargers defensive end Melvin Ingram — arguably the best player on his team so far this season — recorded three sacks, a single-game career high. The first came midway through the second quarter, and was followed by a shared sack between Joey Bosa and Corey Liuget.

Had rookie safety Rayshawn Jenkins not been flagged for roughing the kicker, the Chargers would have forced a missed field goal attempt from 51 yards. Kansas City eventually settled for Cairo Santos’ 31-yarder, one that bumped their lead to 17-7 with 6:09 left in the second quarter.

The visitors didn’t score again until the final two minutes, when Kareem Hunt iced the game with a 69-yard touchdown run.

“That’s winning football, on that side of the ball,” Rivers said. “I’ve got to play better, and see if we can bounce back.”

Any hopes of doing so still rest on his shoulders. The Chargers spent this past offseason trying to lighten that load, signing left tackle Russell Okung, and drafting three rookie offensive linemen along with receiver Mike Williams at No. 7 overall. Williams has been limited by a herniated disk in his lower back, but is eyeing an October debut — one that could add a dimension to a still-stagnant offense.

Even if Rivers continues to struggle, the Chargers don’t have any good alternatives. The only other quarterbacks on the roster are Kellen Clemens — a 34-year-old journeyman who is 8-13 as a starter — and second-year pro Cardale Jones, a project who has completed just six regular-season passes.

“We’ve just got to regroup and keep going,” Rivers said. “There’s really no excuses to be made. We’ve just got to do a better job.”

Jack Wang covers the Chargers, the latest NFL team to relocate to Los Angeles. He previously covered the Rams, and also spent four years on the UCLA beat, a strange period in which the Bruins' football program often outpaced their basketball team. He is a proud graduate of UC Berkeley, where he spent most of his time in The Daily Californian offices in Eshleman Hall — a building that did not become earthquake-safe until after his time on campus.